One False Note (The 39 Clues, Book 2) [Hardcover]

Gordon Korman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 2, 2008 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: The 39 Clues (Book 2) | Lexile Measure: 680L (What's this?)

Super-selling author Gordon Korman sends Amy and Dan off on a wild chase in Book 2 of the highly-anticipated 39 Clues series.

JOIN ANYTIME TO PLAY FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN!

THIS JUST IN! Amy and Dan Cahill were spotted on a train, hot on the trail of one of 39 Clues hidden around the world. BUT WAIT! Police report a break-in at an elite hotel, and the suspects ALSO sound suspiciously like Amy and Dan. UPDATE! Amy and Dan have been seen in a car . . . no, in a speedboat chase . . . and HOLD EVERYTHING! They're being chased by an angry mob?!?

When there's a Clue on the line, anything can happen.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Following Rick Riordan's first book in the projected 10-title series, The Maze of Bones (SLJ, Feb. 2009, p. 58), Gordon Korman has written the second installment (Scholastic, 2008) about Amy and Dan Cahill's quest for the 39 clues left by their deceased wealthy and eccentric grandmother who has promised to reward the winner with unimaginable riches. Those unfamiliar with the first book will miss out on some of the past history, but there is enough background given here to ensure that listeners will enjoy the mystery and adventure. Dan, 11, is impetuous and resourceful, while Amy, 14, is pedantic but brilliant. Narrator David Pittu, with only slight voice and accent variations, brings to life their constant squabbles as well as the threats by their nefarious relatives, such as a scheming rock star and his father, a former KGB agent, an entire family of enemies, and an elderly "gentleman" with evil intentions. The orphans, on the run from the Massachusetts Child Protection Program, are supported by their patient and resourceful companion Nellie and their grandmother's cat, Saladin. Pittu is almost breathless as he describes vehicle races on the road and along the canals of Venice. A lot of historical information is presented about Venice, Mozart, Marie Antoinette, and more. A fun listen.—Edith Ching, Washington Latin Public Charter School, DC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Booklist

The multipronged attack (books, playing cards, online games, prize sweepstakes) of the 39 Clues extravaganza dashes onward in this second book. Korman takes the reins from Rick Riordan, responsible for series opener The Maze of Bones (2008), with barely a hitch as Amy and Dan Cahill continue their quest to solve the mystery of their wide-ranging and powerful extended family (a tree that branches from Mozart to Picasso to Snoop Dogg). The siblings’ bickering increases as they hunt down the next clue, but so do their successes as they manage to be always one step ahead of their various cutthroat cousins. Korman dutifully moves the plot from point B to point C but only advances the wider story a smidge, which is hewing closer to the TV reality show The Amazing Race than the puzzle-studded mystery that sleuths may be anticipating. But, if the creators have bet correctly, it matters little that the story is already threatening to become repetitive and only mildly satisfying in itself, as kids will already have too much attention invested in the whole conglomerate to consider bailing. Grades 4-8. --Ian Chipman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; REI/CRDS edition (December 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545060427
• ISBN-13: 978-0545060424
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Europe
  • #56 in Books > Children's Books > Mysteries & Detectives

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Leave Your Clues At Home December 20, 2008

By S. Stevenson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

It can't be unsaid that THE 39 CLUES has a pretty excellent marketing strategy going for it. What with having kids who read the series eager to collect the 6 cards that come with each installment and having their parental units buying up card packs to expand their collection as well. Then there's the idea of having different popular children's authors writing each book -- starting out with the very popular Rick Riordan (PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS) on book one, and now with book two, having Gordon Korman (ISLAND / DIVE series plus others) authoring. But with all that said, ONE FALSE NOTE continues the story and keeps things moving nicely, but still -- the series feels somewhat stunted.

I won't go into the plot much at all since so much of it rides on keeping the secret twists and things just that: a secret. The puzzles and clues that Dan and Amy encounter this time around are just about as baffling as in the first outing. One or two can be guessed pretty quickly, but there are others that really are a surprise. And more secrets of the Cahill family are uncovered, but nothing to really put everything together yet -- and that's probably how it should be since there are still eight books in the series to go.

ONE FALSE NOTE does have a few differences in style, which are to be expected from having a different author. Some of the word choicings seemed startling as they differed so much from THE MAZE OF BONES. But after about a chapter, it was easy to slide back into the Cahill world.

The whole time I was reading through, I keep thinking that this series could be so much more. It seems like there's a good idea being built upon, but sometimes things are a little too easy for the characters. Last book, I kept worrying that Amy and Dan wouldn't be able to get through something, but this time around things were a little easier for them it seemed.

All in all, ONE FALSE NOTE is good, and definitely keeps things rolling until the next installment. I just hope that the future authors really seize upon the ideas here and run with them.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning History, One Clue at a Time January 1, 2009

By Donald Mitchell HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If you are a veteran of The Maze of Bones, you now know about the Cahill family and the race to find and solve the 39 clues, have visited the catacombs in Paris, and know the answer to the first clue (Shh! Don't tell!). In One False Note, you'll gain new perspectives on what it has meant in the past to be a Cahill, learn a lot about Mozart, gain a little knowledge about Venice, and find and solve a second clue (which you'll probably figure out on your own by drawing on what you learned from the first clue).

Once again, Amy and Dan are still off trying to find the 39 clues with a Mozart musical composition in the hand writing by the master himself. To save money, they are on a clunky train headed for Vienna. Dan's amazing memory turns out to be essential, Amy's willingness to put up with her brother keeps the peace, and au pair, Nellie Gomez, patiently does the heavy lifting where an adult is essential. All of them are worried about Saladin not being willing to eat cat food (being used to fresh red snapper) as the cat gets thinner and thinner. There's lots of action as the Cahills seek to thwart each other.

A major part of the story's charm is that the opposing Cahills are such dunces while having exaggerated opinions of themselves. It's not hard for Dan and Amy to outwit them at virtually every turn. But the youngsters still have a lot to learn about keeping what they know to themselves.

To me, the only thing better than a mystery . . . is an extended mystery. The idea of putting together all of these books, trading cards, and the Web site permits the mystery lover to enjoy the unknown (which is always so much more exotic than the known) for a long time. It's terrific.

As a stand-alone book, this one is pretty good. But don't bother to pick it up unless you want to follow the story through all of the books. Naturally, if you really want to compete for the prizes you'll need to acquire the cards. But I think you can enjoy the whole thing quite a bit just by reading the books and visiting the Web site. It's a more entertaining version of The Amazing Race pitched for the juvenile set.

The book's main drawback is that the characters are too predictable . . . and are often more than just a little annoying. To sustain such a series with the highest level of entertainment, it would have been a good idea to make the leading characters more desirable and attractive. I also wonder if it was necessary to turn them into thieves to make the story work. I don't think so. There's a negative moral tone here that will bother any parent who pre-screens what his or her children read.

But if you want to enjoy it as pure fantasy and imagine yourself as either Amy or Dan (and how you could avoid being a crook and still win), I think you will have a good time.

Parents will like that there is so much culture and history crammed into the story line. It's likely that those who read the series will develop some lifelong interests that might otherwise have taken longer to sprout.

Enjoy your mysterious cake and eat it,too!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Hot on the trail of the clues July 28, 2010

By Karen L. Syed VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

One False Note take us on the second leg of Dan and Amy's quest to discover all 39 clues. This time they are headed to Austria to figure out what Mozart has to do with their heritage and the mystery that has take over their lives.

Dan, Amy, and Nellie, their trusted and so cool au pair are hot on, the trail of the next clue, with Saladin in tow. On top of figuring out the clues, they are puzzled by whatever it is that is making Saladin, their late grandmother's cat, scratch himself silly and refuse to eat.

In this adventure Dan and Amy uncover yet another secret fortress used by their diabolical, and very artisitc, relatives to thwart the Cahill's discovery of useful information.

We learn about Mozart and his sister and several links between the great musician and other famous people. And who knew that Mozart's sister was a musician herself?

One False Note is a good read, not as good as the first book, but still full of action. One thing I didn't so much like was the constant bickering between Dan and Amy. Even for brother and sister it almost overshadowed the story. And the historical information is a lot more blatant in this one and not made as interesting.